Cookies & Ice Cream, the Who, What, Where, When & Why

By Desiree Future @Desiree_Future

As an avid movie watcher, I enjoy various kinds of flicks. Faith-based, drama, action, and romance always intrigue me. Sometimes, I’ll plop on my sofa with my cat on my lap and take in a good show. Other times, I’ll head to the movie theater to see the matinee of a new screening.

Recently I was watching a movie at home where a young lady had snuck into the kitchen while everyone was fast asleep. Quickly she grabbed the tin of cookies that her mouth had been watering for. As soon as she opened the lid to take one out, the light came on. She was no longer alone.

A man appeared laughing as she was caught red-handed. She admitted the delicious cookies were calling her name in her sleep. He on the other hand needed a midnight snack. She turned to the cabinet behind her and reached for silverware.

I found that rather odd but I thought nothing of it. That is until she returned to the counter with two spoons. He joined her as they both stuck their flatware into the ice cream on the counter before them.

What was happening I questioned myself as I tried to pause the movie. However, this was a made-for-TV movie, and pause simply would not work. One minute she opened a can of cookies to bite into and the next they both were eating out a tub of sherbet looking frozen deliciousness.

How in the world could this have happened? Did I nod off for a brief second and miss the placement of the two items? Or was I half asleep and thought they were one thing when they were something else? I did fall asleep before the ending of the great movie so it could have been just me.

As a woman who works a full-time job and has a writing career, I tend to fall asleep from being tired a lot. Sometimes I forget where I put my keys and then forget where I parked the night before. However, pieces not matching in a movie are some things I don’t forget.

Since napping before the conclusion, I wanted to find the name of the movie to rewatch again. As well as find the answer to this question of the sweet treats. I had to do some sleuthing via the internet.

My first several attempts failed miserably because I couldn’t remember any part of the name. Not only that but I couldn’t remember any of the actors. Some of them are known celebrities.

The Christmas church concert was canceled due to a blizzard that snowed in members. A widowed mother’s car breaks down and the pastor invites her and her daughter in to wait out the storm. That was my only memory of what I started viewing but what started viewing me.

I silently prayed as I tried to locate said events on Google. It was a very good film that I wanted to watch again from the beginning to the end. Eureka, I found it. Would you believe I even found the clip of the cookies and ice cream?

With my eyes glued to my laptop, I hit the play button to the three-minute clip. I tuned out the city noises around my apartment building. With my hand on my chin, I focused so as not to miss anything, although I could easily replay the video.

My mind was not playing tricks on me. The woman did open a tin of chocolate chip goodness and was about to bite into one when the man turned on the lights. After she returned from the counter behind her, she had two spoons. One for each of them as they spooned out the creamy dessert.

How did the cookies turn into ice cream right before my eyes? Was it a magic trick of some sort? How did one appear and the other disappear?

Yes, I had a lot of questions, but that part threw me through a loop if you will. I’m not sure if this was based on a novel previously written that was turned into a movie. Or it was just a movie made to be a movie?

However, when this came to fruition something was truly missing. Just like when you sit down to write, you must ask yourself questions your reader would ask you. Who, what, where, when, and why did this happen?

You don’t want to leave your readers with more questions than answers. Nor do you want them to have to play the guessing game to find out such. It’s never a good idea to leave your audience hanging unless there’s a sequel coming.

No, not every book is perfect because from time to time, errors will slip through the cracks. That’s even after several sets of eyes have seen and approved said writing. Your job after you write your amazing book is to become the reader.

When you become the reader, you gain a different perspective on what you wrote. You’re no longer inside this bubble typing away for hours on your computer. Instead, you are sitting in your favorite spot with your delicious drink as you travel to another time reading the book.

That is where you will find the who, what, where, when and why. This is also where you will have the opportunity to answer any missed questions. Or even replace a certain scene that doesn’t quite fit.

Always remember that storytelling is about taking people on journeys to places that can transform their lives for that moment. Make that journey a wonderful experience by telling an outstanding story. Give your audience a reason to want to keep traveling with you.

Desiree Future is the author of Christian Romance novels, The Pastor’s Heart & It’s a New Season. She’s also a Self-Improvement Blogger who splits her time between writing encouraging & inspiring articles and rewriting her next novel. This cancer survivor of Northern New Jersey enjoys traveling and the theater.